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Remembering Chris Peterson

How often do you meet people who are actually interested in learning about you? I'm not that accustomed to the person who truly deeply wants to know who I am. In fact, being an introvert, I prefer not to share. Keeping my mouth shut works for me. But there have been two people I have met who looked piercingly at me, wanting to know who I am. The first would be the Dalai Lama, who was genuinely curious about me. The other would be Chris Peterson. In both cases, they stared at me waiting for my answer.

Naked honesty is hard to come by, but Chris Peterson was that and more. For the past four and a half years, Chris's thoughts and musings have graced the pages of our website. And he was one of my favorites. I have learned a lot about life from him, including:

Life is like Scrabble, luck matters if you take advantage of it.

Few people are mind readers, let them know that they matter (sometimes it's more for your own benefit than for theirs).

It's never too early to start living happily ever after.

And a bucket list is not about dying, it's about living.

But his trademark that seemed to stick the most was: "Other People Matter." He certainly lived by these words. He even has a Wall of Gratitude in his office, a bulletin board filled with thumbtacked thank you cards and notes. It's not a bad idea for when we feel blue and unhappy, a quick look at such gratitude would surely right a rainy day.

In my spare time I like to write fiction, and Chris seemed to take an interest in my endeavors. He read my manuscripts, every word; and he even gave me feedback and thoughtful comments. But how did he make the time? A man who has written countless journal articles and won myriad awards.

Last August, the magazine threw a small get together at the APA conference; Chris was the star attraction and life of the party. He was the first to arrive, and the last to shut the party down. Even Scott Barry Kaufman hovered around hoping to be introduced. Chris got a lot of attention in life, but he didn't seem to suffer a big head. His very popular PT column was titled "The Good Life," and he knew how to live it that way.

Thank you for your article, Lybi. I can hear him singing to the tune of "My Favorite Things". It's been a treat to get to hear all of the memories of him.

In case any readers are interested, there is a scholarship being created in honor of Dr. Chris Peterson...the big hearted prof. who made every student feel like they mattered. It seems fitting that the professor whom his colleagues referred to as "Mother Theresa" would have something that lives on after him to mirror his own generosity.

Thank you for your article, Lybi. I can hear him singing to the tune of "My Favorite Things". It's been a treat to get to hear all of the memories of him.

In case any readers are interested, there is a scholarship being created in honor of Dr. Chris Peterson...the big hearted prof. who made every student feel like they mattered. It seems fitting that the professor whom his colleagues referred to as "Mother Theresa" would have something that lives on after him to mirror his own generosity.

I so appreciate these articles honoring the life of Chris Peterson! I was fortunate to have him as my abnormal psychology professor at U of M back in 1988 (before there was a field of positive psychology). All the same, he exuded such a spark and glow behind what he taught that it inspired many of us to want to make a career out of psychology! He went on to chair my thesis and support me in applying to graduate school. He was even kind enough, the other month, to write an endorsement for an upcoming book of mine “for old time’s sake.” He was such a dedicated, hard-working, and sincere professional—and so tremendously bright and witty in his way of conveying information. I can recall seeing him on campus a few times on the weekends working away at a restaurant. I was aware, back then, that he worked a lot harder than those of us students who might whine about our studies. When he agreed to write an endorsement for my book, he said, “just be sure to give me enough time to read it—I never blurb anything I haven’t read cover to cover.”
And of course, he wouldn’t. He was an exceptional professor, teacher, and person. I can only hope to pay forward the inspiration and kindness he has extended to me.